Director Buchi Babu Sana has responded to the criticism surrounding the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor's character in Peddi, admitting that he did not expect certain scenes from the film's romance track to receive such a strong negative reaction from viewers.
The filmmaker recently reflected on the debate that emerged online after the film's release. He acknowledged that the discussions have encouraged him to think more carefully about how female characters are presented in future projects.
Speaking to SCREEN, Buchi Babu said he was surprised by the response to the romantic portions involving Janhvi Kapoor's character, Achiyyamma. Addressing the controversy, he said, “I had not anticipated that the scenes would be perceived so negatively by audiences.”
The director explained that the intention behind the storyline was different from how many viewers interpreted it. Sharing his perspective, he said, “The idea was to showcase a playful romance story between Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor. However, we’ll be more careful and make better representations.”
Peddi, which is set in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram region, follows the journey of a cricketer for hire played by Ram Charan. The film revolves around themes of identity, recognition and community struggles.
While several viewers appreciated the film's emotional and dramatic elements, discussions around the romance track soon became one of the biggest talking points on social media. Much of the criticism focused on the introduction of Achiyyamma's character and the way the relationship between the lead pair develops during the first half of the film.
Some viewers objected to scenes that initially focused on the character's physical appearance before revealing her face. Others questioned portions of the courtship track, arguing that certain moments appeared to romanticise behaviour they considered problematic and raised concerns about consent.
The conversation quickly expanded beyond reviews of the film itself. Audiences and commentators used the debate to discuss broader issues related to the portrayal of women and romantic relationships in mainstream cinema.
Responding to the criticism, Buchi Babu indicated that the feedback had given him a new perspective on audience expectations. His comments suggest that future projects may reflect a more considered approach to character writing and representation.
Peddi released in theatres on June 4 and continues to remain part of ongoing conversations online.